Google Drive synchronizes each local file with the cloud by default. Breaking this link without understanding the mechanism exposes you to a cascading deletion: a folder removed from the server can simultaneously disappear from the computer. The distinction between locally stored files and files only streamed from the cloud is the starting point for acting without risk.
Mirror mode and streaming mode in Google Drive for desktop
The old “Backup and Sync” tool has been permanently replaced by Google Drive for desktop since 2022. Many well-ranked tutorials still describe menus that no longer exist, leading to manipulation errors.
Related reading : How to Simplify Your Waste Management with an Innovative Digital Solution
Drive for desktop offers two distinct modes of operation. The mirror mode duplicates all cloud content on the local hard drive: each file exists in duplicate, one copy on Google servers, one copy on the machine. The streaming mode (called “file streaming” in the French interface) displays files in the explorer but only downloads them when opened.
Before adjusting the synchronization settings, you need to know which of the two modes is active. In mirror mode, stopping synchronization leaves a complete local copy on the disk. In streaming mode, the displayed files are just shortcuts to the cloud: stopping synchronization in streaming mode removes local access.
See also : How to Easily Access Your Overblog Account and Manage Your Posts
To check the active mode: click on the Drive icon in the taskbar, then on the settings gear, and check the “Google Drive” section. The mention “Stream files” or “Mirror files” indicates the current mode. Before any deactivation, it is safer to disable Google Drive synchronization while knowing precisely the state of your local copies.
Switch to mirror mode before stopping Drive synchronization
The most reliable method to keep your files is to switch to mirror mode, wait for the local download to finish, and then disable synchronization. Here are the concrete steps.
- Open the settings of Drive for desktop, select “Mirror files” in the Google Drive section, and confirm. The software will then start downloading all files from the cloud to the local Google Drive folder.
- Wait for the complete download to finish. The Drive icon in the taskbar will display a checkmark when mirroring is complete. On a large space, this operation can take several hours.
- Once mirroring is complete, click on the Drive icon, then on the gear, then “Quit Google Drive for desktop”. The software stops, synchronization ceases, and the files remain intact on the hard drive.
- To prevent any automatic reconnection on the next startup, disable the automatic launch of Drive in the system preferences (task manager on Windows, login items on macOS).
This approach also works to keep only part of the files. Before switching to mirror mode, simply select the folders to synchronize in the settings, so you only download what really matters.
Disable Drive synchronization on Android without losing your data
On an Android device, Google Drive synchronization works differently. Files created in Google applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides) remain in the cloud. Automatically saved files (photos, app data) go through a distinct Android backup mechanism separate from Drive for desktop.
To stop Drive synchronization on Android:
- Open the phone settings, then “Accounts”, select the relevant Google account, and uncheck Drive synchronization. Other services (Gmail, Contacts, Calendar) can remain active independently.
- Check Google Photos settings separately, as Photos synchronization and Drive synchronization are independent. Disabling one does not affect the other.
- For files made available offline in the Drive app, they remain accessible on the device even after stopping synchronization, as long as the cache is not cleared.
Disabling automatic synchronization does not lead to the deletion of data on the phone or in the cloud. It simply prevents automatic updates between the two.
What stopping synchronization does not protect against
Disabling synchronization resolves the issue of local files but does not cover all scenarios. Since late 2023, Google has been enforcing its account suspension policy more strictly in cases of prolonged non-compliance with storage rules. Files already present in the cloud remain subject to Google’s terms of service, whether synchronization is active or not.
An account inactive for a long period may see its content deleted by Google, according to the current inactivity policy. Stopping synchronization does not change the account status or the content already stored on the servers.
Keep an independent copy from Google Cloud
For a truly autonomous backup, exporting via Google Takeout remains the most comprehensive solution. This service allows you to download all Drive data in the form of compressed archives, independently of any synchronization software. The result is a set of files stored locally, with no residual link to Google servers.
Google Workspace accounts (business or education) add a layer of complexity: administrators can restrict or force synchronization via the admin console. In this case, user-side deactivation may be blocked or reactivated without notice by the domain administrator.
The local copy obtained through mirroring or Takeout, then stored on an external drive or NAS, is the only real guarantee of long-term preservation, independent of Google’s decisions regarding accounts and storage.